A dangerous prayer..
You know the songs where we sing “Jesus make me look like you?” We all know during the sanctification process, the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to be molded into the image of Christ (which is not perfected until we die or Jesus returns) and is a lifelong process.
I think when we sing this, we don’t really grasp the reality of what it means. I remember listening to this song on repeat, called “touch your robe” by Gable Price and friends. I sang it over and over. “I want to live in surrender, I’m laying down my sword. I wanna hunt like you do, for the beaten and the bruised. I wanna know You, God. I just want touch your robe, catch a glimpse of your heart. I just wanna give you all of my alabaster jar. I wanna know you. I don’t care what it costs.”
We sing this and pray this, but are we truly prepared when God presents us with an opportunity to walk this out? In order to do this, we have to deny our flesh and be empowered through God’s Spirit to be obedient to His word and His ways. To our flesh., this HURTS. We say “Jesus make me look like you” but are we prepared to forgive radically? Are we prepared to love those who hurt and betray us? Or mock us? Are we prepared to love people through their brokenness? To bless those who persecute us? How about turning the other cheek? Do we really understand the magnitude of what we are saying?
In my experience, I’ve learned who God is the most among trials, tribulations, hurt, betrayal, and suffering. Jesus suffered and we are also promised to share in His sufferings. Sometime’s its for correction and discipline, and sometimes it’s for sanctification. Someone once told me they watched a sermon and the preacher said there are two types of storms in life: a correcting storm and a perfecting storm.
The gospel and our life surrendered to Christ is not about US, our blessings, our physical comfort, or our own will. It’s about bringing glory to God, pointing others to Jesus, and God’s kingdom and purposes. With spiritual growth comes great pruning and stripping. God often uses those closest to me to shine a light on what is REALLY in my heart. What is in our heart will come out in our beliefs, words, and actions. There are many things in my heart that are just UGLY. I’m talking about the types of things that bring conviction that make you fall on your face and weep.
As hard as it is, embrace it. Ask the Lord to help you through it. Embrace when you have the opportunity to look like Jesus. THIS DOES NOT COME NATURAL TO US OR OUR FLESH which is why I’m reminding you (and myself).
